boss babe

This Thursday, January 12th, I’m publishing the second book in the Vivienne Series, HiJack. I’m so excited to continue this fantastic chick lit, novella series. If you haven’t read book one yet, you can get it free today or on January 11th or 12th. (Here’s a link> https://amzn.com/B01M8PKQ9K)

The entire series follows super-smart Vivienne as she aims to break through the glass ceiling of the private jet industry. She meets some fantastic characters along the way, including Joel Rockhurst, the CEO of JetStream Areospace (maker of high-end private jets). In the scene below Vivienne is called to have lunch with Mr. Rockhurst, something she finds really odd considering she’s only a secretary in the sales department.

Now I’m in Wonder Woman mode, ready to tackle…I have no idea. Lunch, that’s obvious, but why?

I finally opt for a business suit, but give it some key Vivienne touches. For one, I skip the shirt. A strategically placed safety pin keeps the neckline of my jacket exactly where I want it. It’s intriguing and I add my delicate gold necklace with the Irish goddess symbol charm to boost my powers. I’ll take all the help I can get today. I keep my makeup and jewelry simple to offset the sexy effect of no blouse. And, my pièce de la résistance—four inch heels. They’re classic pumps but with devilishly pointy toes that look like they could injure you. They will also make me exactly the same height as Joel Rockhurst. I checked online, he’s 6’2”. It’s harder to be intimidating when you are eye to eye.

✈✈✈

I feel fierce and ready for whatever he throws at me when I show up at Carolyn’s desk. She’s on her phone, but she smiles up at me and points to his door, indicating that I should go in. I smile back, suck in a deep breath and pull myself up to my full height before I open the door.

Joel Rockhurst looks like the CEO of a private jet company should, if you’re going by Hollywood standards anyway. He’s a sixty-three year-old silver fox, aging like Richard Gere or Kevin Costner—all distinguished and kinda sexy. He has the body of a man with a personal chef and a private trainer and just enough lines on his face to make it look like he hadn’t hit the Botox, yet. When I walk in, he’s also on the phone and fiddling with a golf club while he talks. He uses it to point to a chair in front of his desk, indicating that I should sit there. I sit on the edge. I don’t want to get comfortable until I know what this meeting is about.

As he finishes his call I study his office. Most of it is pretty generic for anyone in our industry–glamour shots of all the planes we make, awards for charity work, a few golf trophies. There are photos on his desk, probably of his family, but they’re facing away from me so I can’t scrutinize them. The décor says wealthy, but is more business than flash. Like him, it’s all understated. The desk alone probably costs more than my car, but it’s made to look more mundane and well-used. There’s a marble-topped table next to my chair with two industry magazines and an interesting paper weight. I can’t resist the urge to turn it toward me.

As he hangs up, he catches me and smiles. “Welcome to my office, Ms. Ramsey. I’m glad you could make it.” He doesn’t stand up to greet me. He’s keeping it casual, except for my name.

“Thank you.” I smile back and try to look relaxed. I don’t let go of the paperweight but instead pick it up. “EPR gauge,” I note. I study the face further. “From a 1960’s model J2.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “I was right about you.”

Ok, that was cryptic. “Sir?” I have to know more. Right about me how?

He pushes himself out of his chair and walks past me to the conference table at the far end of the room. “I hope you like chicken, Ms. Ramsey. I always have chicken on Mondays.”

What a perfect Joel Rockhurst statement. It sounds accommodating, but isn’t.

I shrug. “Chicken is great.” I stand and walk toward the table making sure I stand near him briefly and face him, eye to eye. He pulls the chair out for me and I sit. “Thank you.”

As he walks toward a bar cart he asks, “What can I get you to drink?”

I play it safe. “Water would be great.”

He returns with a glass of water for me and a glass of tea for himself. When he sets it down, I push a small plate containing lemon slices toward him and he nods. “You’re good.”

Ok, we’ve established that. I don’t think my nerves are showing, but my irritation might soon if he doesn’t get to the point.

He sits and immediately begins to cut his chicken and green beans. I follow suit. After chewing and swallowing his first bite, he finally gets to the point.

Joel will finally get to make his point this Thursday. Find out what brought Vivienne to this mysterious meeting by grabbing a FREE copy of Fearless Flying (book 1) here > https://amzn.com/B01M8PKQ9K

Then pre-order your copy of HiJack for only 99c (the price will go up on publication day!) > http://a.co/48JZlId.

I started on this this book a year and a half ago. I wanted to create an incredible female character, one who embraces her feminine traits and uses them in the business world to find success. I wanted her to be the opposite of the ball-breaking, tough-ass bitch that successful women have been portrayed as before. Vivienne is introverted and quiet. Her super power is watching and learning, then seeming to have all the answers out of nowhere. She knows her strengths, but she’s just not sure how to use them…yet.

Fearless Flying is the first book in The Vivienne Series. The great news is that most of the series is already written so there will be very little wait time between books!

Click here to grab your copy today. It’s only 99c on Amazon or FREE for KU readers. Hop on board and #LiveLikeViv.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to go off line. I’ve tried to run but I just can’t seem to hide from this election. I’m ready to cast my vote and be done with all this online bickering and ads.

If you’re with me I’ve got the perfect solution. Let’s go to Savannah. Ok, yeah, it’s in the U.S. and the election is there too, but it’s not in Vivienne’s world. This Thursday, November 3rd, I’ll be publishing THE BEST election escape book, ever.

It’s called Fearless Flying and it’s boss-babe, rom-com, chick-lit fun. Here’s the details so we can plan out escape together.

An amazing job, check

An adorable apartment, check

A super supportive best friend, check

There’s only one thing missing from Vivienne Ramsey’s perfect life…

And after ten years of waiting the time is finally right for her to seduce her dream man. Tonight she’s going to wear Danny out in bed until he dies a happy man. But before she can begin her carefully crafted strategy of seduction he’s headed for the door. And for once in her over-organized life Vivienne doesn’t have a back-up plan.

If he had only read the memo about his part in her happily-ever-after.

It will be live on Amazon for 99c (and FREE on KU) on Thursday, then you can silence your devices, turn off the tv and retreat into Vivienne’s world.

Ok, you can go ahead and judge my book by its cover. Because today I revealed this absolutely beautiful cover created by the lovely, talented and ever-so-patient Rebecca Berto of Berto Designs. It took Rebecca and I several tries to find a look that said chick-lit and had the right energy AND could be translated into six more covers for the rest of the series. I admit, I also had some help from Whitney G, an author who definitely knows a thing or two about great covers. In the end we created a look that not only fits in the chick lit genre but is also warm and inviting and shows the determination of Vivienne, the main character, to take off on her life’s adventure.